Even though classes were canceled, many students were in Winslow Dining Hall Wednesday night to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Caryn Shaw, ICALA president, said this was the first year the campus Mardi Gras celebration was done at Winslow.

Shaw said the partnership started with Dining Services and Racer Hospitality in an effort to celebrate international holidays on campus.

Music played while students made masks and a menu of traditional foods provided by Dining Services.

Foods served included shrimp etouffee, dirty rice, fried alligator, jambalaya and King Cake.

Summer Jang, senior from South Korea, said this was her first time celebrating Mardi Gras and that it was a lot of fun.

Max Ginsberg, freshman from Houston, had his face painted for the occasion. Ginsberg said he plans to celebrate in New Orleans one day.

“(Mardi Gras) such a part of the culture down there (New Orleans),” Ginsberg said.

Saintpaul, originally from the French-speaking part of Belgium, said even though Mardi Gras has been integrated by the Roman Catholic Church, it goes back to the Early Middle Ages and the rites of spring.

“Originally it was on the first Sunday, after the full moon, after the equinox of spring,” Saintpaul said. “It was Pagan revelry, including eating a lot, that was a festival of spring coming back. They celebrated the forces of nature, promoting the return of the good spirits of spring.”

Story by Lori Allen, Staff writer